Manhole and cistern construction



May 21, 1935. N. P. ONEAL MANHOLE AND CISTERN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug.13. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Elnuznmr 21 .1. OJVeaZ May 21, 1935. N, ONEAL2,002,127

MANHOLE AND CISTERN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 13, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Jl/TP. OQVezZ Zlnuamur Sltturncgs.

N. P. ONEAL May 21, 1935.

MANHOLE AND CISTERN CONSTRUCTION Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED. STATESPATENT OFFICE MANHOLE AND CISTERN CONSTRUCTION Nathaniel Faul ONeal,Hope, Ark. Application August 13, 1934, Serial No. 739,701

3 Claims (c1. 72-! This invention relates tothe construction ofmanholes, cisterns or the like and aims to provide a novel form of brickto be used in the construction of manholes or cisterns, whereby eachbrick will act as a key, insuring strength and durability of structure.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a brick taperedtowards one end thereof, providing a wide end portion and a narrow endportion to the end that when the brick is used'in the construction of acircular manhole with vertical walls, the adjacent faces of the bricksof each course, will be disposed in parallel relation with each otherinsuring a solid structure, and at the same time reducing the amount ofmortar used in connecting the bricks,

to a minimum.

Still another object of the invention is to-provide a brick havingcertain of its opposite surfaces formed radially, with the result thatwhen it is desired to reduce the diameter of thestrucwithout departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a manhole built ofbricks constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental plan view of the manhole.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of one of the bricks.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the reduced end of the brick.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the brick.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of brick.

Figure '7 is an elevational view of the enlarged end of the modifiedbrick.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the modified brick structure.

through a manhole built with a brick of a further modified form.

Figure 11 is a'perspective view of a brick used in the construction ofthe manhole, shown by Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the manhole or cistern made frombricks constructed in accordance with the invention, is indicatedgenerally bythe reference character 5, and includes a plurality ofcourses 6 which are posi- 10 tioned so that the inclined surfaces of theside of one brick are disposed opposite tothe inclined sides of theadjacent'bricks but in spaced relation witheach other to receive mortar,indicated at I.

These bricks are usedin the construction of r the lower portion of themanhole, wherein the outer and inner walls of the manhole aresubstantially vertical. It will of course be understood that the numberof courses of these bricks 6 will be varied, according to the size ofthe manhole or cistern being built.

In the present showing I have illustrated a manhole including sevencourses of the type of brick indicated at 6, the outer ends 8 of thebricks, being convex so that the outer surfaces of the finished manholewill be curved. The innerends of the bricks are slightly concave as at9, so that the inner surfaces of the finished structure will be alsocurved. i

Certain of the side faces of the bricks are concaved as at In, providingsockets in which mortar will be held, securing the bricks together.

The opposite side faces of the bricks are formed with grooves definingrecesses for the reception of mortar, to more securely lock the brickstogether.

The form of brick as shown by Figures '6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, issubstantially the same as that shown by Figures 3, 4 and 5, except thewide end 26 of the brick is concaved, while the inner end 21 thereof, isconvexed. In this form of the invention the upper and lowersurfaces aswell as the side surfaces of each block are inclined or converge towardsone end of the block.

Directly above the courses constructed of the bricks 6 that have theirradial faces disposed laterally, are bricks arranged in courses II, andresting on one of their radial faces, the wide ends of the bricks beingdisposed outwardly with the result that the diameter of the manhole isslightly reduced near the upper end thereof.

Courses of bricks indicated at [2, are now positioned on the uppermostcourse II, and are arranged so that they rest on one of their radialfaces, the reduced or narrow ends of the bricks being disposed'outwardlyto the end that a slight outward curve is given to the structure.

The bricks comprising the top course i3, are arranged so that theirradial faces are disposed laterally but spaced from each other toreceive mortar.

Positioned on the top course I3, is the usual cover supporting flange M,in which the cover 15 is positioned. In the form of the invention asshown bylfigures and 11, the brick is provided with radial faces it atopposite sides of the brick, with the result that one end of the brickis ap: preciably narrower than the opposite end thereof, so that in theconstruction of the manhole or cistern, the lower section of the manholeor cistern which is vertical, may be constructed'by arranging the bricksof the courses I 7,; with their radial faces disposed laterally, theadjacent radial faces of the bricks being spaced-apart to receivemortar.

In order that the necessary slope will be given to the structure, acourse E8 of bricks is laid in such a way that the bricks will rest onone of their respective radial faces.

The adjacent upper courses, indicated at 59, may now be laid by reducingthe number of bricks ineach succeeding upper course, and laying thesebricks with theirj radial faces disposed laterally.

The top course, which is indicated by the reference character 25], islaid by disposing the sub: stantiallynarrow ends of the bricksoutwardly.

The cover supporting flange 2! is now positioned on the uppermostcourse, and accommo- V dates the cover 22.

In order that the bricks will be securely locked in certain of the facesof the bricks, which grooves provide sockets for the mortar.

As shown by Figure of the drawings, in building a manhole-or cisternwith the usual well known type of brick, the 'outer ends of the bricksmust be spaced appreciable distances apartwhile the inner ends of thebricks meet inorder that the .circular or curved lines of the manhole orcistern may be carried out. It will be seen that in .a construction ofthis character greater quantities of mortar are required to fill thespace indicated at 2:3, and in constructing a manhole or cistern in thisway, it is necessary to employ the services of a skilled brick layer;while in the construction of a manhole or cistern wherein bricksconstructed in accordance with the present invention are used, thebricks may be laid by unskilled work- ,men, since the outline of themanhole or cistern may be carried out without the necessity of spacingthe outer ends of the bricks accurately to form the. curvature.

The usual ladder,"indicatedby the reference character 25, may be securedwithin the manhole, during the construction of the manhole.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, a circular manhole or cistern may be constructed, and theoutline of the manhole or cistern, which includes an upper reducedportion, and a still further upper straight portion, may be carried outby merely inverting and reversing the bricks, when the several coursesare being laid, making it unnecessary to provide special types of bricksfor carrying out the particular outline of the structure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a manhole construction, a plurality of bricks arranged in courses,said bricks having parallel upper and lower surfaces and inclined sidesurfaces, the side surfaces of the bricks of the several'courses beingarranged adjacent to each other forming a circular lower portion, uppercourses of bricks, the bricks of the last mentioned courses having theirupper and lower surfaces and side surfaces converging towards one endthereof providing bricks having wide ends and narrow ends, certain ofthe courses of bricks being arranged whereby the narrow ends aredisposed inwardly, and certain other courses being arranged with thewide ends of the bricks disposed inwardly, shaping the manhole.

2. In a manhole construction, a plurality of bricks arranged in courses,said bricks having parallel upper and lower surfaces and having sidefaces inclined towards the inner ends of the bricks, the side faces ofthe bricks of the several courses, being arranged adjacent to eachother, forming a circular lower portion, upper courses of the bricksembodying bricks having wide ends and narrow ends, the bricks of certainof the courses having their wide ends disposed outwardly and the bricksof certain of the courses having their wide ends disposed inwardlyshaping the manhole, and said bricks having convexed surfaces providingpockets between adjacent bricks for the reception of mortar;

3. In a manhole construction, a plurality of bricks arranged in courses,certain of the courses being constructed of bricks having parallel upperand lower surfaces and having side faces tapered towards one end of thebricks, certain courses being constructed of bricks having the upper andlower surfaces and side faces tapered towards one end of the brickproviding bricks having wide ends and narrow ends, the bricks of certainof the courses being arranged with their wide ends disposed outwardly,and the bricks of certain of the courses being arranged with theirnarrow ends disposed outwardly shaping the manhole.

NATHANIEL PAUL ON EAL.

